Ryanair scale down Ops at Girona

 

Earlier today Ryanair announced that its 5 year extension with Girona Airport has been cancelled. The agreement was originally made in December, however the incoming Catalan government has refused to honour it's terms with the airline.

A Spokesman for Ryanair told the press "In December 2010 Ryanair and the Government of Catalonia reached agreement on a five year extension of its base operation at Girona Airport under which Ryanair agreed to base 11 aircraft at Girona, operate 64 routes and deliver 4m passengers p.a. which would sustain up to 4,000 jobs in and around Girona Airport."

However, the new government has refused to honour the agreement despite being consulted on it by the outgoing government," he continued.

Ryanair now intends to scale back its operations from the airport by removing five aircraft, closing 18 of the current 64 routes and cutting the frequency of flights on a further routes.

This will result in the loss of over 100 weekly flights, Ryanair's Girona traffic fall from 4m to 2.3m per year, and lead to the loss of up to 1,700 jobs in the area.

"Ryanair will now switch these five aircraft to lower cost airports elsewhere in Europe," the airline said.

"It is a remarkable achievement by the new government to have caused such job and tourism losses within weeks of taking office," said spokesman Michael Cawley.

"However, while this is a significant loss for Girona, Ryanair will continue to grow at other lower cost airports in Spain and elsewhere in Europe."